NEW HARVEST’S POSITION ON PROPHECY
Scripture teaches quite clearly that prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:10) and that we should eagerly desire the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 14:1) as it is a gift that benefits the whole Church (1 Cor. 14:4). We are taught not to smother or stifle the gifts and workings of the Spirit in the Church, thus impoverishing the Church, but to rather encourage the full expression of these gifts to the benefit of the whole Body (1 Thess. 5: 19 – 20 / 1 Cor. 14:4).
However, there is also a need to understand how to properly use this gift, including how to become aware of the traps which the enemy sets for all who walk in the supernatural realm. The Lord Himself warned us that every time He sows wheat, the enemy will try to sow tares in the same field. Therefore it is important that if someone receives a prophecy they should first test what is being said against Scripture, seek confirmation, and share it in confidence with others (ie. think it through carefully and pass it through the filtering process) before spontaneously speaking it out.
We at New Harvest encourage the exercising of Spiritual Gifts, and are always eager to hear what the Lord is saying to us as a Body through the gift of prophecy. Should a person receive a word from the Lord for New Harvest, we encourage that person to be able to freely share what they sense God is saying with a pastor, who will then take the prophecy to the Listeners Group (a pastoral support and direction seeking forum for New Harvest) to seek confirmation, understanding and applicability for the congregation.